A multivariate morphological analysis of the Cardamine concatenata alliance (Brassicaceae)

Principal coordinate analysis using Gower’s similarity coefficient and canonical discriminant analysis were performed using morphological data to assess species distinctness in theCardamine concatenata alliance, comprising the eastern North American dentarias. The results of an overall principal coordinate analysis of the alliance using quantitative and qualitative characters revealed distinct and separate clusters that correspond to five previously recognized species (C. angustata, C. concatenata, C. diphylla, C. dissecta, C. maxima). One additional taxon,C. incisa, was found to group closely with theC. diphylla cluster. In a second principal coordinate analysis including only individuals fromC. diphylla andC. incisa, both are supported as distinct morphological entities. Canonical discriminant analysis of only above-ground quantitative characters was less effective in distinguishing previously recognized taxa, in keeping with the emphasis on qualitative characters in previous taxonomic treatments of the group.Cardamine incisa (Eames) Schumann (pro hybr.) is raised to the rank of species. A key to the species of theCardamine concatenata alliance is provided.     

Assessment of genetic diversity and morpho-physiological traits related to drought tolerance in Stylosanthes scabra

Among the many Stylosanthes species, Stylosanthes scabra, a range fodder legume, performs better under limited water condition. In the present investigation, thirty-four accessions of S. scabra were assessed under limited water condition, for various morpho-physiological characters associated with drought. In general, S. scabra exhibited better tolerance to drought, as evidenced by high leaf thickness and greater accumulation of proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in water stress condition. Transpiration efficiency (TE) was high, in both control and water stress conditions and positively correlated with root, shoot, and total dry matters, in both control and stress conditions (r ² = ranged from 0.589 to 0.961 in control and from 0.351 to 0.985 in stress). Of these, 25 accessions were assessed for estimation of genetic diversity, employing random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 210 RAPD bands, obtained with 32 primers, revealed high polymorphic information content (0.49) and marker index (4.41). Dendrogram analysis indicated close proximity among the accessions of S. scabra. These accessions were clustered in high similarity range (84.01–98.36 %). Accession IG-366A separated from other clusters at 85.62 % similarity level. RAPD marker system revealed 13 accessions exhibiting >90 % genetic similarity while the other accessions exhibited similarity ranging from 68 to 90 %. A higher level of genetic similarity which was also evident from the similar levels of TE, biomass production, root/shoot ratio, MDA, proline contents and drought tolerance index, indicated a cause–effect relationship among them. Results also indicated that among the accessions, S. scabra rate-reducing resistance allo-tetraploid lines were better suited for hard and cracking soils, under complete rain-fed condition.     

Convergence and parallelism: is a new life ahead of old concepts?

In comparative biology, character observations initially separate similar and dissimilar characters. Only similar characters are considered for phylogeny reconstruction; their homology is attested in a two‐step process, firstly a priori of phylogeny reconstruction by accurate similarity statements, and secondly a posteriori of phylogeny analysis by congruence with other characters. Any pattern of non‐homology is then a homoplasy, commonly, but vaguely, associated with “convergence”. In this logical scheme, there is no way to analyze characters which look similar, but cannot meet usual criteria for homology statements, i.e., false similarity detected a priori of phylogenetic analysis, even though such characters may represent evolutionarily significant patterns of character transformations. Because phylogenies are not only patterns of taxa relationships but also references for evolutionary studies, we propose to redefine the traditional concepts of parallelism and convergence to associate patterns of non‐homology with explicit theoretical contexts: homoplasy is restricted to non‐similarity detected a posteriori of phylogeny analysis and related to parallelism; non‐similarity detected a priori of phylogenetic analysis and necessarily described by different characters would then correspond to a convergence event s. str. We propose to characterize these characters as heterologous (heterology). Heterology and homoplasy correspond to different non‐similarity patterns and processes; they are also associated with different patterns of taxa relationships: homoplasy can occur only in non‐sister group taxa; no such limit exists for heterology. The usefulness of these terms and concepts is illustrated with patterns of acoustic evolution in ensiferan insects. © The Willi Hennig Society 2005.     

Karyotype analysis and DNA content in some species of Chrysolaena (Vernonieae,Asteraceae)

Cytogenetic characterization by karyotyping and determination of DNA content by flow cytometry of five species of Chrysolaena (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) was performed. This is the first study of nuclear DNA content realized in the genus. The 2C-values were compared with the ploidy level and the total karyotype length (TKL) of each species. Mitotic analysis revealed a base chromosome number x = 10 for all entities and different ploidy levels, from diploid (2n = 2x = 20) to octoploid (2n = 8x = 80). All species showed bimodal karyotypes composed of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. The average chromosome size (ML) varied from 1.86 μm to 2.70 μm, while the TKL ranged from 18.65 μm to 80.55 μm. The intrachromosomal asymmetry index (A₁) varied from 0.27 to 0.38, while the interchromosomal asymmetry index (A₂) ranged from 0.19 to 0.25. A new cytotype is reported for the first time for C. propinqua. Accessory chromosomes found in C. verbascifolia, C. cognata, C. flexuosa, and C. propinqua are also reported as new.     

Antimicrobial Activities of 3-Amino- and Polyaminosterol Analogues of Squalamine and Trodusquemine

A series of 3-amino- and polyaminosterol analogues of squalamine and trodusquemine were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial properties against human pathogens. The activity was highly dependent on the structure of the different compounds involved and the best results were obtained with aminosterol derivatives 4b, 4e, 8b, 8e and 8n exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against yeasts, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at average concentrations of 3.12–12.5 μM.     

Thalassomyxa australis rhythmicity I. temperature dependence

Abstract

The period of the rhythmic change between a mobile phase and a resting phase in the plasmo‐dial rhizopod Thalassomyxa australis depends strongly on the ambient temperature, exhibiting a Q₁₀ value of 2.7. Period length at 27°C is 18 h, and at 10°C 86h.     

Seed protein electrophoresis of some cultivated and wild species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis>

Seed protein profiles of 40 cultivated and wild taxa of Chenopodium have been compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The relative similarity between various taxa, estimated by Jaccard’s similarity index and clustered in UPGMA dendrogram, is generally in accordance with taxonomic position, crossability relationships and other biochemical characters. Eight accessions of C. quinoa studied are clustered together and show genetic similarity with closely related C. bushianum and C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae. The taxa included under C. album complex are clustered in two groups which show that these taxa are a heterogenous assemblage and their taxonomic affinities need a reassessment. Other wild species studied are placed in the dendrogram more or less according to their taxonomic position.     

SYNTHESIS AND ANTI-HCMV ACTIVITY OF NOVEL ACYCLIC NUCLEOSIDES

ABSTRACT

A series of novel acyclic nucleosides 10, 11, 21, and 22 were synthesized efficiently starting from D-lactose. The condensation of the mesylate 5 and 16 with an adenine and cytosine base under standard nucleophilic substitution conditions (K₂CO₃, 18-Crown-6, DMF) afforded a series of acyclic novel nucleosides. Compound 21 displayed moderate anti-HCMV activity in the AD-169 cells (EC₅₀=18.5 µg/mL) without exhibiting any cytotoxicity up to 100 µM.     

新疆准噶尔盆地早侏罗世掌鳞杉科植物化石 及古大气CO2浓度

植物化石气孔参数分析是目前恢复古大气二氧化碳浓度较为精准的方法之一,银杏类和松柏类等是恢复古大气CO_2浓度常用的化石类群。本文利用新疆准噶尔盆地下侏罗统三工河组的松柏类掌鳞杉科Brachyphyllum(Hirmeriella?)sp.化石对早侏罗世大气CO_2浓度进行了重建,获得早侏罗世大气CO_2浓度为～1200ppm,丰富了早侏罗世大气CO_2浓度信息,进一步说明掌鳞杉科植物通过气孔比率法在重建侏罗纪大气CO_2浓度方面的可靠性。掌鳞杉科植物的旱生构造和较高的大气CO_2浓度表明早侏罗世Toarcian期大洋缺氧事件在陆地生态系统内可能产生了一定的响应。     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of certain hydrazonoindolin-2-one derivatives as new potent anti-proliferative agents

In connection with our research program on the development of novel indolin-2-one-based anticancer candidates, herein we report the design and synthesis of different series of hydrazonoindolin-2-ones 3a-e, 5a-e, 7a-c, and 10a-l. The synthesised derivatives were in vitro evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity towards lung A-549, colon HT-29, and breast ZR-75 human cancer cell lines. Compounds 5b, 5c, 7b, and 10e emerged as the most potent derivatives with average IC₅₀ values of 4.37, 2.53, 2.14, and 4.66?µM, respectively, which are superior to Sunitinib (average IC₅₀?=?8.11?µM). Furthermore, compounds 7b and 10e were evaluated for their effects on cell cycle progression and levels of phosphorylated retinoblastoma (Rb) protein in the A-549 cancer cell line. Moreover, 7b and 10e inhibited the cell growth of the multidrug-resistant lung cancer NCI-H69AR cell line with IC₅₀?=?16?µM. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of 7b and 10e were assessed towards three non-tumorigenic cell lines (Intestine IEC-6, Breast MCF-10A, and Fibroblast Swiss-3t3) where both compounds displayed mean tumor selectivity index (1.6 and 1.8) higher than that of Sunitinib (1.4).     

基于16S rRNA基因高通量测序研究狞猫肠道微生物多样性

[目的]研究狞猫肠道微生物多样性特征。[方法]对7只健康成年野生狞猫（2只雄性,5只雌性;2只来自济南野生动物园,5只来自威海野生动物园）粪便微生物16S rRNA基因V3-V4区进行高通量测序,对狞猫肠道微生物多样性进行研究。[结果] 7只狞猫共获得肠道微生物16S rRNA基因V3-V4区有效序列1458741条,平均208392条,序列平均长度433 bp。通过以97%的序列相似性进行分类,获得操作分类单元（OTU）平均 233个。经序列比对和分类鉴定,这些OTU都属于细菌域,包括13个门,26个纲,43个目,75个科,119个属。其中,丰度最高的细菌门是厚壁菌门（Firmicutes,平均占61.7%）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria,12.42%）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes,7.79%）、梭杆菌门（Fusobacteroidetes,7.79%）和变形菌门（Proteobacteria,7.53%）。丰度最高的科依次是消化链球菌科（Peptostreptococcaceae,平均占16.15%）,梭菌科I（Clostridiaceae_I,14.78%）,毛螺菌科（Lachnospiraceae,13.13%）,红蝽杆菌科（Coriobacteriaceae,12.31%）等。丰度最高的属是柯林斯氏菌属（Collinsella,11.44%）,艰难梭菌属（Peptoclostridium,10.91%）,狭窄梭菌属1（Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,10.3%）,拟杆菌属（Bacteroides,7.41%）,消化链球菌属（Peptostreptococcus,5.21%）等。7只狞猫的肠道微生物中有平均15.35%的OTU没有归类到属。样本间聚类分析结果表明,来自同一动物园的样本聚为一支。[结论]本文通过高通量测序技术研究了狞猫肠道微生物的组成和多样性特征,为狞猫的救护饲养和消化生理学研究提供基础数据。     

Butterflies of the South Pacific

ABSTRACT

Larvae of the invasive mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say are morphologically similar to those of the native Culex pervigilans Bergroth, yet distinguishing these species can be hampered by morphological variations in Cx. quinquefasciatus. We present detail about the extent of these variations in an urban population of Cx. quinquefasciatus in Auckland. To aid in identification of this exotic species, we provide images of key diagnostic characters and some observed exceptions to these. Details regarding variation in diagnostic characters for < 3rd instar and 3rd/4th instar larvae are given. Of the nine characters used for identification, three were highly consistent (dorsal papillae, mantle plate, pecten teeth); each observed in > 90% of larvae, although these characters were not always visible. Other characters were less reliable, for instance, the expected position of seta 1a-S in relation to the pecten teeth was observed in < 10% of larvae. Further exploration of regional morphological variation in both Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pervigilans is recommended, ideally with associated molecular characterisation.     

禽分枝杆菌对豚鼠的致病性分析

【背景】我国禽型结核菌素(avian tuberculin)的制造用菌株为CVCC 68201、CVCC 68202和CVCC 68203株,但目前仍未明确这3株菌的生物学特性及对豚鼠致病性的情况。【目的】探究禽分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium avium)的生物学特性及对动物机体的致病性,为禽结核病和牛结核病的防控工作提供技术支撑。【方法】对3株禽分枝杆菌基因组进行鉴定分析及核酸相似度分析;用3株禽分枝杆菌分别感染豚鼠,观察感染后的临床症状、病理学变化、体重增重情况分析、皮内变态反应结果、脏器系数变化等,进而分析3株禽分枝杆菌对豚鼠的致病力。【结果】种型鉴定和进化分析结果表明,CVCC 68201、CVCC 68202和CVCC 68203均为禽分枝杆菌,基因组与Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium FDAARGOS_1608最为相近;在感染前期、中期、后期对3株禽分枝杆菌感染豚鼠的体重增重情况分析发现,感染禽分枝杆菌影响豚鼠增重,主要表现为生长迟缓,感染第5周时,CVCC 68201、CVCC 68202组豚鼠的平均体重明显轻于未感染组;皮内变态反应试验结果显示,感染CVCC 68201组豚鼠的皮肤红肿面积明显大于其他2个感染组,CVCC 68201可引起机体更为强烈的迟发型变态反应;3株禽分枝杆菌感染后,豚鼠脾脏和肺脏存在不同程度的肿大与出血,其中感染CVCC 68201豚鼠的肺脏系数与未感染组相比差异显著(P<0.01);病理学观察结果显示,豚鼠肺脏可见不同程度病变,其中CVCC 68201组更为严重,表现为肿大和轻微出血。各感染组豚鼠肺脏和脾脏组织切片抗酸染色均可见红色的分枝杆菌散在浸润。【结论】3株禽分枝杆菌对豚鼠均有一定程度的致病性,可引发局部病变。本研究为禽分枝杆菌的制备和鉴定提供依据,也为牛结核病的鉴别诊断方法研究提供参考。     

Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by Trichoderma reesei FS10-C and Effect of Bioaugmentation on an Aged PAH-Contaminated Soil

ABSTRACT?The co-metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and the capacity of the fungus Trichoderma reesei FS10-C to bioremediate an aged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil were investigated. The fungal isolate removed about 54% of B[a]P (20 mg L^?1) after 12 days of incubation with glucose (10 g L^?1) supplementation as a co-metabolic substrate. Bioaugmented microcosms showed a 25% decrease in total PAH concentrations in soil after 28 days, and the degradation percentages of 3-, 4-, and 5(+6)-ring PAHs were 36%, 35%, and 25%, respectively. In addition, bioaugmented microcosms exhibited higher dehydrogenase (DHA) and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDAH) activities and increased average well-color development (AWCD), Shannon-Weaver index (H), and Simpson index (D) significantly. Principal component analysis (PCA) also distinguished clear differentiation between treatments, indicating that bioaugmentation restored the microbiological function of the PAH-contaminated soil. The results suggest that bioaugmentation by T. reesei FS10-C might be a promising bioremediation strategy for aged PAH-contaminated soils.     

A comparative study using chemometric and numerical taxonomic approaches in the identification and classification of traditional Chinese medicines of the genus Clematis

Abstract

A comparative study was performed to identify and classify traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) of the genus Clematis by applying chemometric and numerical methodologies. In the analysis, 12 species representing major TCM plants of the genus and belonging to five different sections – Rectae, Clematis, Meclatis, Tubulosae and Viorna – were identified and demarcated on the basis of morphological and phytochemical characters. In the numerical study (NS), out of 53 selected characters, only 27 phylogenetically informative characters were used for data generation; a phenogram was produced with three distinctive clades. The extent of genetic distances ranged from 0.35 to 0.80. The phytochemical analysis (PA) was conducted using a high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (DAD) and ESI‐MS mode. The compound “Huzhangoside D” (HGD) was the most abundant in the analysed species of the genus. The PA of saponins produced a differential matrix based on the presence or absence of chemical characters, which generated a phenogram. The extent of genetic distances ranged from 0.05 to 0.35 in the phytochemical analysis, with three distinctive clades. Clematis intricata had compounds (HGB, HGD) with GD 0.30, and produced a different pattern of clustering than the previous classification system. The species C. henryi and C. heracleifolia appeared as sister clades having congruent genetic similarity with each other; this is an innovative combination. The classification results of PA and NS approaches corroborate each other, but the chemical fingerprinting method proved more authentic, quick and reliable for the identification and classification of these plant taxa.     

A new variety of Senna birostris (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) from Argentina

Senna birostris previously included seven varieties distributed mostly above 2000 m, in the Andes, between the equator and 33°S. According to Irwin & Barneby,Senna birostris var.hookeriana was the only variety in Argentina, distributed from the Jujuy province to the San Luis province. New observations led us to identify two distinct entities that have gone under this taxon. The new variety,Senna birostris var.jallaguensis, is described from Argentina and illustrated herein and is compared toSenna birostris var.hookeriana s.str.     

Three numerical approaches to the classification of Chinese species of genus Abelia

In the last 10—20 years there has bee n increasing awareness of the problem concerning the aims and practices of taxonomy. In particular, there has been growing interest in the development of numerical methods in biological taxonomy as an aid to making systematics a quantitative science, a step which comes in time to almost every scientific discipline. Numerical taxonomy is the evaluation by numerical methods of the affinity or similarity between taxonomic units and the employment of these affinities in erecting a hierarchic order of taxa. The present rapid development of these ideas is presumably a result of the development of computer techniques. Numerical taxonomic approach has been applied to the studies of entomology and microbiology in China to some extent since 1975. But so far it hasn’t been commonly used in botany. The present report is a preliminary study on 9 spp. of the genus Abelia. A set of binary data with 54 characters is used for computing association coefficient; and a set of quantitative data with 47 characters for distance coefficient and correlation coefficient. For the mathematical models were chosen the non-metric simple matching association coefficient, the geometrical distance of Riemannian space and correlation coefficient. Computational procedures are stepwise presented in detail and computer programmes are written in the background of Algol-60 language. Cluster analysis is compared with simple linkage, average linkage and multi-correlation. The results of DC and CC for 9 spp. of Abelia agree closely with the traditional taxonomy, because the data we collected mainly come from morphological characters. It would seem that the results of quantita tive data are more appropriate for seed plants. It is, therefore, postulated that our programes are complementary and very useful to a wide range of classification entities, such as microbes, animals and plants in present situation in China. In conclusion, a comparison between the conventional taxonomy and numerical taxonomy has been made, and a brief discussion of three problems, i.e. the monothetic versus polythetic, divisive versus agglomerative, weighting versus unweighting.     

The body wall of cheilostome bryozoa IV. The frontal wall of schizoporella unicornis (Johnston)

The frontal wall of Schizoporella unicornis (Johnston) develops as a partition of the coelom just before ascus formation. The ascus develops proximally from the proximal border of the aperture. S. unicornis, therefore, belongs to the monothetic Order Cryptocystidea. The outer part of the opercular cuticle is lost during development.